Expired Team Hydro Alcatraz (kayak)

Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition affecting the brain, afflicting ~1 million Americans.  It is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.  There is no cure, and the only treatments are surgical, requiring invasive brain surgery.  The most common treatment was developed in the 1950s and involves the implantation of a medical device (shunt) into the brain; 50% of shunts fail within 2 years of implantation, requiring additional surgeries. Awareness of and funding for hydrocephalus is extremely low relative to other conditions with similar prevalence.

Team Hydro swims to improve the lives of the 1 million Americans living with hydrocephalus.  Inspired by the courage and grace of their sister Kate  (who passed away in 2010) brothers Peter and Sam Finlayson founded TEAM HYDRO in 2008 during a particularly rough hospitalization.  They swam from Alcatraz that year with two of their best friends.  Since then, Team Hydro has continued to participate in open-water swims to raise funds and awareness for hydrocephalus research.  As an all-volunteer organization, The Team is able to allocate 100% of funds and to date, Team Hydro has raised over $1,250,000 for research.

Team Hydro's website https://donate.teamhydro.org/event/team-hydro-alcatraz-2023/e421431